He is perhaps confusing the Kalabhra era in a convoluted sort of era... The period from 4th to 6th century in TN was known as the dark age, when the Chera/Chola/Pandya kingdoms were subjugated by Kalabhra (kalappirar in Tamil) rulers who came down from today's AP/Karnataka region. They were Jain/ Buddhists and referred to in most unflattering terms by later tamil literature. Finally they were driven out by the Pallavas and the resurgent Pandyas. To their credit, the Tamil literature did grow during their period especially the great Jain/ Buddhist Tamil works including cilappadikaram.
